Swindon lose Hart

Swindon have confirmed interim manager Paul Hart and assistant Ian McParland have left the club with immediate effect following Town's relegation to npower League Two.

Hart was handed the reins until the end of the season and charged with the task of guiding the Wiltshire outfit to safety after Danny Wilson resigned in early March.

Wilson, who led led the Robins to League One play-off final defeat at Wembley last season, parted ways on the back of a run of just three points from a possible 33.

And Hart was unable to stem the tide, winning just one of his 11 games, culminating in Monday's 3-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday which confirmed bottom-of-the-table Swindon's relegation.

Andrew Fitton stepped down from his role as chairman on Wednesday and former Swindon defender and current Under-18s manager Paul Bodin has been placed in caretaker charge for the remaining two games of the season.

Interim chairman Jeremy Wray told the club's official website, www.swindontownfc.co.uk: "Paul Hart and Ian McParland inherited a very difficult position and while ultimately the club was unsuccessful in its fight against relegation, I have no doubt that Paul and Ian made every effort to preserve Swindon Town's League One status.

"The board would like to place on record its gratitude for all the energy and efforts expended by Paul and Ian during their time with the club.

"We have appointed Paul Bodin as caretaker manager until the end of the 2010/11 season. The search for a new manager begins immediately."

Hart himself added: "I would like to thank the board, the supporters and most of all the players for their support over the last seven weeks. I feel sure Swindon Town Football Club will be back in its rightful position very soon."